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OVER 20,000 readers of Bell’Europa magazine in Italy are reading all about the Burren this month. The May edition of the glossy travel magazine, includes a 64-page supplement dedicated entirely to Ireland. Tourism Ireland in Milan teamed up with Bell’Europa to produce the special supplement, which features a stunning image of the Cliffs of Moher and articles about the Burren. Ornella Gamacchio, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Italy, said, “We are delighted with the excellent coverage in this month’s edition of Bell’Europa magazine. This special supplement, dedicated to Ireland, will be read by over 20,000 Italians – so it’s a great way of keeping Ireland and the Burren to the fore in Italy. We look forward to welcoming Italian visitors to the island of Ireland, as soon as the time is right.”

UL Hospitals Group have confirmed that outpatient appointments and elective procedures will go ahead as scheduled in the majority of cases tomorrow, Monday, May 17, at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and University Maternity Hospital Limerick. In a statement issued this afternoon, the group have advised that patients should attend their appointment/procedure unless contacted directly by the hospital and advised otherwise. The Emergency Department (ED) at UHL continues to operate 24-7, but is very busy. Members of the public are reminded to consider all care options and only attend the ED in an emergency. The statement went on to advise, “Non urgent patients may experience significant delays. Injury Units are operating in Ennis Hospital and Nenagh Hospital and are open from 8am to 8pm and St John’s Hospital from 8am to 7pm. The Maternity Emergency Unit is available 24-7 and the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit continues to operate an appointment only service. “Patients are …

A NUMBER of sports clubs in Clare could “go to the wall,” after being unable to fundraise during the pandemic, a local councillor has warned. Councillor Mark Nestor told the May meeting of Clare County Council that while everyone welcomes the fact that clubs are allowed to return to some of their activities, concerns are mounting over their financial viability in the aftermath of the lockdowns. “It’s great that clubs can now go back to their activities,” he said. “That’s a very welcome thing, but some have been in touch about their rental costs when it comes to accessing facilities. It’s particularly true for soccer clubs. For example, they might have to rent twice in the week with training and then for their games. In some cases, they simply cannot meet the financial costs. That’s down to the fact they haven’t been able to fundraise for over a year. Some clubs have informed me that they will go to the …

National Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 2 Wexford 2-19 Clare 1-21 A DRAMATIC late turnaround saw Wexford snatch the spoils and ensure that Clare’s winless start continued in Cusack Park on Sunday, reports Eoin Brennan. Eight points clear entering the final quarter following strong attacking performances from Aidan McCarthy, Aron Shanagher and Cathal Malone, nothing but a home victory appeared on the cards. However, a straight red card for Liam Corry altered the momentum irrevocably as a buoyant Wexford sprung to life with 2-4 with reply to hit the front for the first time. To their credit, Clare did regain parity deep into injury-time thanks to a brace of Aidan McCarthy frees. But Wexford would have the final say when Rory O’Connor arrowed over a free in the left corner to secure the points. Clare will be disappointed to have lost their way, having bounced back from their defeat to Antrim to take the game to their Leinster …

Sinn Fein deputy was subjected to scathing Twitter attack IT HAS emerged that an anonymous Twitter account, which led to the termination of the contract of Sunday Independent columnist Eoghan Harris, targeted Clare Sinn Féin TD Violet Ann Wynne. Last week, editor Alan English took the decision to terminate Mr Harris’s contract after he admitted to being involved in the Barbara J Pym account, which has since been permanently suspended for violating Twitter’s rules on platform manipulation and spam. The account tweeted Deputy Wynne last March after the Tánaiste’s erroneous assertion that there were no protestants in Sinn Féin. While Leo Varadkar later apologised to Deputy Wynne, a member of the Church of Ireland, the Barbara J Pym account launched a scathing attack. The tweet, sent to the Tánaiste, Sinn Féin and Deputy Wynne said: “She’s only acceptable as a token Protestant as long as she toes the SFIRA line and justifies the murder and ethnic cleansing of Protestants north …

Court heard homeless man had lived at house with late mother and sister and was trying to ‘get accommodation’ ARMED gardai and a specialist negotiator were deployed after a man barricaded himself into a house in Ennis last week, a court has heard. Ennis District Court last Friday heard the man had been living rough and illegally entered the property in an attempt to secure accommodation. No one was harmed during the incident and the man was subsequently arrested and charged with trespass. Directing the involvement of the probation services, Judge Sandra Murphy said “there is a particular tragic set of circumstances” in the case. The three-hour stand off started shortly after 3pm on May 6 after gardai received a report that a man had barricaded himself into his former home on the outskirts of Ennis. At Ennis District Court last Friday, Garda Eoin McFadden said the 28-year-old man was threatening self harm. The court heard the man was recently …

PLANS are underway to transform parts of Ennis town centre to allow evening outdoor dining, with hopes that it will lead to increased footfall and an economic boost to local businesses. An application is being made by the local authority for up to €200,000 in funding from the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme announced by Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD and Fáilte Ireland. Ahead of a decision on the grant submission, the Ennis Municipal District has also announced plans to close roads to facilitate outdoor dining during the evening times. The roads set to be closed are Parnell Street, from Carmody Street to Woodquay Junction. Also Frances Street from the junction of Friary car park to Abbey Street, with access to the Friary car park to remain open. It is proposed that the streets will be closed from 6.30pm to 11.30pm, every night for June, July and August. Closures are further planned from 6.30pm to 11.30pm on Friday, Saturday and …

Allianz Football League Division 2 South Round 1 Clare v Laois at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 4pm (Sean Lonergan, Tipperary) THE prevailing narrative when it comes to Division 2 has always been its ultra competitiveness and relative uncertainty as to which teams are elevated and evicted from the division on any given year. That script is emphasised when it comes to assessing Clare as having been touted as relegation candidates (nationally at least) every year since winning Division 3 in 2016, they have managed to defy those odds and could have even soared to the top flight had results gone their way last year. Indeed, in two-thirds of Clare’s league matches over the past three seasons, only a kick of a ball has separated the sides and in the context of an even smaller pool this time around, two of those were minimum results came in 2020 against Kildare (0-11 to 0-10 win), and Laois (1-12 to 1-11 loss), both …